Chen Shuo came back to his senses: "You cannot prevent anyone from appreciating beauty."
Isn't this an indirect way of complimenting Su Xiyan's good looks?
At least, this was how Su Xiyan understood it.
"You just asked what ingredients I bought, right?" Chen Shuo replied: "You like light meals, don't you? I bought mainly seafood and the like. There's also a whole chicken - I'll cut it in half later on, cook one half as white-cut chicken, and stew soup with the other half - delicious!"
"Girls should drink more soup. Chicken soup has beautifying and skin-nourishing effects."
As Su Xiyan listened to Chen Shuo's vivid description, she wasn't really listening at all. She only wanted to draw him into conversation: "Didn't you buy any pig's blood or duck's blood? If you don't like eating congealed blood, you can buy some live animals to bring home and kill them yourself, that way you can obtain fresh, warm blood."
Chen Shuo felt that something was off with Su Xiyan today - she mentioned "blood" in almost every other sentence.
His heart shuddered violently!
Could she already suspect his true identity?
No, that's not right. If she suspected him, given her decisive and ruthless personality, he wouldn't have had the chance to speak at all by now.
"I don't have that taste," Chen Shuo answered truthfully.
Su Xiyan paused for a few seconds, then raised an eyebrow: "As a vampire, how have you survived without drinking blood all this time?"
Chen Shuo had already prepared an answer before Su Xiyan asked this question.
"Since you already know, there's no point in me pretending anymore."
After saying this, Chen Shuo felt like all his strength had been sapped. He slumped limply into the passenger seat, even speaking with great difficulty.
"I never actually wanted to move out in the first place. I was afraid that when facing you, I wouldn't be able to control my urges.
"I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to stop myself from drinking your blood. But you're a demon hunter! If I were to drink your blood, I'd surely meet my end at your hands before I'd even lowered my head."
As an intelligent woman, Su Xiyan wasn't fooled. She continued her probing questions: "According to what I know, you should have starved to death long ago without drinking any blood?"
Chen Shuo answered feebly: "I'm just a low-level vampire. My craving for blood isn't that strong yet. As demon hunters, your research on vampires should be quite thorough, right? The higher the level of vampire, the greater their need for fresh blood."
"I've never done anything bad. I'd rather starve myself to death than harm anyone."
"Otherwise, why would I still be at the lowest vampire level until now?"
Chen Shuo spoke passionately and convincingly. His words left no room for doubt.
Su Xiyan didn't continue her questioning. Chen Shuo's weakness didn't seem feigned.
It wasn't entirely an act either. Calculating the days, he should have drunk the body-strengthening liquid given by the system today. But Chen Shuo had forgotten. So he was genuinely somewhat weak right now, on top of forcibly suppressing the thirst for fresh blood that was welling up within him.
The combination of these two factors resulted in his very realistic state.
As Su Xiyan gazed at the faint crimson flickering deep in Chen Shuo's eyes, it was evident that he was keeping his innate vampiric urges in check.
She slammed her foot on the accelerator pedal, picking up speed.
Three minutes later, they arrived downstairs at Haiyi Apartments.
This time, Su Xiyan didn't make Chen Shuo carry anything. She wasn't a delicate girl who stood on ceremony. With one hand holding the supermarket bag and the other supporting Chen Shuo, she waited for the elevator.
What a coincidence, they ran into those two aunties from last time again.
Seeing the usually frosty Su Xiyan supporting Chen Shuo once more, the aunties' eyes were filled with speechlessness. They activated their time-honored gossip skills.
"Wasn't it this young man last time too?"
"That's right, that's right! Can't be wrong. He looks rather handsome!"
"Don't be fooled by this young lady's good looks and fashionable dressing. If she were to become my daughter-in-law, I definitely wouldn't want her!"
"Why's that?"
"You still have to ask? I'd definitely be afraid of her domestic violence against my son! Just look, such a fine young man, and see the state she's reduced him to? He can't even walk steadily."
"Oh dear, you do have a point! It seems his vitality has been utterly sapped."
"Youngsters, practice moderation!"
"......"
Chen Shuo wasn't actually as weak as he appeared. Hearing the two aunties' topic of discussion, he nearly laughed himself into internal injuries from holding it in.
With a ding, the elevator doors slowly opened.
Having been frightened by Su Xiyan before, the two gossiping aunties didn't dare compete with her for the elevator this time. They obediently stood to one side, indicating for Su Xiyan to enter first.
After supporting Chen Shuo into the elevator, Su Xiyan purposefully used her long, slender legs to block the elevator doors, preventing them from closing immediately.
Her icy gaze turned to the two aunties. "Get in," she commanded, her voice not loud yet full of irresistible authority.
The two aunties shivered in fright, not daring to disobey. They tottered into the elevator, squeezing themselves into a corner and not moving a muscle, their previous gossipy manner nowhere to be seen.
Fortunately, the aunties only lived on a low floor. When they reached it, they hastily made their escape from the elevator.
This could be considered Su Xiyan's punishment of them. From now on, they probably wouldn't dare mention her in even half a sentence.
Upon returning home, the crimson glow in Chen Shuo's eyes grew even more intense.
His black pupils glinted red.
Su Xiyan said, "We're home. Are you alright?"
Chen Shuo deliberately acted limp and powerless. His legs gave way and his entire body collapsed onto Su Xiyan.
So... soft!
Extremely perky too!
Before Chen Shuo could revel in the sensation, his body was suddenly lifted into the air. Su Xiyan flung him onto the thick carpet.
"Ah!" This toss was no joke. Chen Shuo felt like all his bones were about to come apart.
What a vicious woman!
It wasn't on purpose that I touched her!
She threw me to my death!
Fortunately there was a carpet below. Chen Shuo lay sprawled on the floor, unable to move for quite some time.
Seeing that Chen Shuo seemed to have stopped moving altogether, and also considering his currently frail condition, Su Xiyan grew a little worried.
She strode over to Chen Shuo's side on her long legs, the black silk stockings accentuating her graceful calves. She tentatively prodded his body with her foot. "Chen Shuo?"
Prodding... my crotch area?!!
Which man could endure this humiliation?!!
Chen Shuo simply pretended to have fainted, curious to see if Su Xiyan would take any further action.
What if she gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation?
Should he reject her?
It turned out Chen Shuo was thinking too much. Seeing no reaction from him, Su Xiyan not only didn't do anything, she actually turned and left the house again after changing her shoes.
Chen Shuo: "......"
Going off script?
What a vicious woman! Does she plan on abandoning me here to fend for myself?!!
Chen Shuo clambered up from the floor and sat down on the sofa, his previous weakened state nowhere to be seen. He was somewhat feeble, but not so much that he would faint. It was just an act to dispel Su Xiyan's doubts.
As an extremely clever woman, fooling Su Xiyan wasn't easy! She would discover any little loophole!
After Su Xiyan walked some distance away, the virtual panel projected by Chen Shuo's system gradually became clearer before his eyes.